He was abducted by several armed men on Tuesday evening in Diema, western Mali.

France has played the leading role in pushing west African countries into the creation of a military force capable of intervening in Mali and reclaiming control of the north of the country from AQIM and other Islamist groups.

Hollande implied the latest abduction could be linked to the planning for military action.

“Taking hostages is a way of applying pressure but it will not influence our decisions,” he said, adding that French citizens should not travel to Mali until further notice.